The sea off the coast of Charleston is known as one of the best fishing grounds on the East coast. As well as fishermen, there are marine researchers out on the waves. We join a boat where sharks are being caught, tagged, and released in order to monitor their movements and gain a better understanding of their habits and lifecycles.

Marine Biologist Erin Levesque explains the significance of the otolith when examining fish. While Myrtle Beach's extensive sandy shoreline caters to mass tourism, the challenge for local artist Chris Wilson is to find the lesser known extraordinary scenes that inspire his paintings.

Chris Wilson’s dedication to art is unquestionable. A patriotic American artist, his love of the coast and the great outdoors inspires him, though the works are produced at a home studio where he can be unaffected by weather conditions or interruptions.

Despite many years of experience, Nema Triplett is still as enthusiastic about diving as someone discovering the sport for the first time. This area is scattered with many shipwrecks, and a leisure diving industry thrives as a result. Today, a boat full of divers is visiting the wreck of the famous U-352 German submarine which was sunk here during the Second World War.

From scuba diving to big-game fishing, many activities here involve water. But it was also on this wild, windswept coastline of islands, shallow banks, and sand dunes that the Wright brothers made the first motorized flight in history.

The coastal town of Duck in North Carolina is home to a group of scientist who use remarkable custom-built vehicles to carry out their research on storms and erosion.

Oceanographer Jesse McNinch gets excited when the big storms roll in. He loves being near the ocean, so his job taking samples and gathering data along the coast is perfect for him. Further north, we pass the city of Norfolk and arrive on the eastern shore of Virginia.

Johnny Mo’s creative approach to preparing fresh seafood draws people to his restaurant in Onancock, Virginia. He wasn’t born on the coast, but loves it and hopes never to leave.

Continuing our tour up the East Coast of America, we reach the state of Delaware, where we meet pioneering wine producer Peggy Raley. For her, each vine is like a child, needing special care and attention to flourish and grow.

Peggy started her winery together with her father, and she keeps his office just as it was when he was alive. Further north on an Atlantic City beach, John Gowdy has carved out a niche for himself as a sand sculptor.

John explains which tools he uses to create his marvellous sand sculptures, and why the finished works of art need protecting from the people who come to see them! Further north, at Toms River, we meet Lindsay Harrington, who works for a museum’s insect zoo, and is on the beach with colleagues trying to net a big catch of invertebrates.

The delightful soul/hip-hop performer Maya Azucena shares her talent and wisdom gained from growing up in Flatbush Brooklyn. Also a quick look at an African American rapper who can rhyme in Japanese!

Maya Azucena talks about her various influences, which range from classic soul to gospel to synth pop. She talks about her experience growing up mulitiracial in an African American neighborhood and how it shaped her worldview.

Vanessa Hidary is a New York poet and performer who tackles issues of race , ethnicity and identity both onstage and off. She mixes rap, observation and story telling to explore difficult themes and issues of importance to us all.

With Britpop at its peak, bands such as Oasis and Blur vied to have the biggest hits, but it was The Verve who struck a chord with perhaps the most memorable song of the era, “Bitter Sweet Symphony." But even their success was bittersweet, as they were promptly sued by the Rolling Stones, who claimed the band had stolen one of their melodies without permission.